The Substance - S14 E110

Inject this into your ears and pray that a better version of yourself doesn’t pop out of your spine. We’ve reached the fourth episode in Dan’s Identity season where we’re discussing Coralie Fargeat’s the Substance (2024).

This isn’t one of those slow French movies where characters meditate on a fireplace for three hours, it’s an $18 million bloodbath that treats Hollywood beauty standards like a personal insult. Demi Moore delivers a career defining turn as Elizabeth Sparkle, while Margaret Qualley provides the ultimate “parasitic” companion for anyone struggling with character identities.

Between Dennis Quaid behaving like a pig with a plate of prawns and a third act that left our jaws on the flaw, this film proves why body horror is best served with a side of satire and some very expensive tile work.

What to expect from this episode:

• We reveal why we watched the trailer 28 times and still weren’t prepared.
• Sarah explains her cynical view on why children are basically parasites.
• Explanation for why babies aren’t born with names.
• Attempts to pronounce Coralie Fargeat’s name at least four different ways.
• Discussion around Hollywood beauty standards.
• We decide whether this film is style over substance or a masterpiece of the crunchy and wet variety.
• Chat about why Dennis Quaid’s eating habits are the real horror of the movie.
• Explaining why Dennis Quaid’s tobacco-stained teeth are the real horror of the movie.
• Pondering why Dennis Quaid’s character name is the real horror of the movie.

This season has eight episodes, concluding April 27th

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